First Nations Telegraph

Google Career Certificates to upskill Australians and connect them to jobs in high demand

[by Matt Snelson]

Image: supplied

As part of the Digital Future Initiative, Google Australia has today launched Career Certificates to help provide Australians with high-demand digital skills and will work with some of the country’s leading employers to connect graduates to technology-related jobs.

The flexible online courses focus on high growth technology areas of IT support, data analytics, project management, digital marketing and e-commerce, and UX design, and have been created by Google experts in these fields. Google has built a consortium of Australian employers including Australia Post, Woolworths Group, Canva, Optus and IAG who recognise these course qualifications and are interested in considering graduates for open roles within their organisations. 

Mel Silva, Google Australia’s Managing Director, said the new courses will help support Australia’s progress in becoming a leading digital economy, and building a strong and inclusive digital future for all Australians.

“Technology-related roles are in demand across all industries in Australia and employers place a premium on these skills. But for many people, it’s hard to find the time for long-term formal training, especially mid-career or with other responsibilities,” Ms Silva said. 

“The great thing about Google Career Certificates is that they provide practical, hands-on experience, and flexibility along with the skills Australians are looking for. And we are excited to work with leading organisations and partners to help connect people with these new qualifications directly to job opportunities.

Google will also provide 10,000 free scholarships with a focus on women and First Nations Australians - to ensure Australians from underrepresented communities have access to new skilling and job opportunities, and help support a more diverse talent pipeline in Australia’s technology sector. Google is partnering with Indigitek, Project F, Generation Australia and Code Like a Girl who will help distribute the scholarships.

“Technology and digital skills have potential to create immense opportunities - but we will only realise the full potential if all Australians can participate,” Ms Silva said. 

Jennifer Westacott, Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia said: “Microcredentials mean people can get the skills they need – when they need them. Google’s leadership is critical to building the digital skills workers and businesses need, especially for those who are underrepresented in digital roles.”

Kate Pounder, Chief Executive Officer of the Tech Council of Australia said: “The Tech Council welcomes Google’s rollout of the Career Certificates program in Australia. Tech workforce shortages are impacting businesses across the economy. Innovative training models like these are needed to reach our shared goal with the Australian Government of 1.2m tech jobs by 2030.”

The initiative forms part of Google’s Digital Future Initiative - a $1 billion investment in Australian infrastructure, research and partnerships announced last year that aims to strengthen local capabilities, support jobs and help build Australia’s digital future.

New Search trends insights reveal that interest in the topic of ‘professional certification’ reached a 10-year high in Australia this year - with Jobs & Education the most searched-for category within the topic over the past 12 months. While overall search interest in the topic has increased 20% in 2022 compared to the previous year, interest in professional certification searches in the Computers & Electronics category has grown 45% over the same period. Data engineer is the top trending job related to professional certification in Australia in the past 12 months, compared to the same 12-month period five years ago. 

Australia faces a digital skills shortage, with a Deloitte and ACS Report ‘Australia’s Digital Pulse’ identifying an ICT jobs gap of 60,000 extra workers needed per annum over the next five years compared to the 7,000 students currently graduating with IT degrees. A new report from Alpha Beta has found that by reducing obstacles in the job search process and improving digital skills training, digital technologies can create up to an additional $25 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per year. 

“Since 2014, Google Australia has trained more than 600,000 Australians in digital skills through Grow with Google and we look forward to building on that with Google Career Certificates,” Ms Silva said. 

The courses are available at grow.google/certificates.

Top regions searching for professional certification

The top 15 regions where search interest in professional certification was the highest in Australia in the past 12 months:

1. Warragul (Victoria)

2. Goulburn (NSW)

3. Lismore (NSW) 

4. Wodonga (Victoria)

5. Canberra (ACT)

6. Warrnambool (Victoria)

7. Darwin (NT)

8. Bundaberg (Queensland) 

9. Toowoomba (Queensland)

10. Mornington (Victoria)

11. Sydney (NSW) 

12. Hobart (Tasmania)

13. Perth (WA) 

14. Melbourne (Victoria)

15. Port Macquarie (NSW)